Ryan Cabrera

Keaton Simons

Ryan Cabrera

Guitarist, songwriter, and Texas native Ryan Cabrera never planned on a career in music. His hobby turned into a passion after hearing Dave Matthews, causing him to turn his back on the noisy punk rock of his high-school band, Caine, and pick up an acoustic guitar for the newly minted Rubic's Groove. The group found popularity in the Dallas area, sharing stages with Cheap Trick, Ben Harper, and Third Eye Blind, before Cabrera's departure. Making the most of a block of studio time -- a birthday present from his brother -- the high-school dropout cut three original songs that impressed the engineer enough to offer the opportunity to do a full-length -- for free. Elm Street was a self-released success, selling out locally and garnering favorable reviews and a deluge of Internet orders. In 2001, Cabrera signed to Atlantic, which scheduled the long-player Take It All Away for release in 2004. Assisting behind the boards were Sabelle Breer and Curt Frasca (Avril Lavigne), Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams), and co-producer Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls). You Stand Watching arrived in 2005, followed by Moon Under Water in 2008

Keaton Simons

Keaton Simons is truly what the Los Angeles Times terms "a triple threat." He captivates audiences with an authentic voice, compelling and soul-baring songs, and a true command of both acoustic and electric guitars in every genre. The energy and passion that Keaton brings to his work (whether in the studio or performing live) are as infectious and stirring as his lyrics and melodies.
As 2013 commences, Keaton Simons is gearing up for the release of his sophomore full-length album Beautiful Pain, co-produced with Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, One Republic) and mastered by Gavin Lurssen of Lurssen Mastering. Beautiful Pain also includes co-writes with friends and peers Jason Mraz, Jason Reeves, Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) and Mikal Blue among others. The highly-anticipated album will be released in the Spring on Keaton's newly formed label, Best Revenge Records. The label's marketing efforts will be headed up by Croshal Entertainment Group, who have assisted a number of prominent independent releases including those by Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Collective Soul, Elliot Yamin and Gnarls Barkley amongst many others.
A regular in The Hotel Café singer/songwriter circuit, Keaton Simons has been recognized by Examiner.com as achieving "cult-like" status in his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. But as most know, Keaton is far from being just an "L.A. guy" let alone a "new artist" on the mainstream map. His debut EP Currently was released on Maverick Records in 2004 and his debut full-length album Can You Hear Me was released on CBS Records in 2008. Since then, he has toured nationally and internationally, opening for Coldplay, Train, Guster and REO Speedwagon amongst others. He has also worked as a writer, musical director, singer, bassist and guitarist with such notable acts as Gnarls Barkley, Snoop Dogg, Josh Kelley and Tre Hardson (The Pharcyde.)
In addition, Keaton's music has been heard in dozens of feature films and television shows, including Sons of Anarchy, Private Practice, NCIS, Malcolm in the Middle, Numb3rs and Hollywood Heights. He has also performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Last Call with Carson Daly. In 2011 Keaton appeared on VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew alongside stepfather, actor Eric Roberts, who was a patient. Keaton recently appeared acting in the David Duchovny Showtime hit, Californication. A performance of his song
"Unstoppable" on the show resulted in over 10,000 iTunes downloads in only two days.
"After bouncing between major label contracts and promises of new deals, I'm following my instincts, assembling my dream team, and hitting the launch button on the type of album I've been wanting to put out for years," says Keaton Simons. "Beautiful Pain shows who I am as an artist, a songwriter, a musician and a producer." Beautiful Pain is Keaton's most universal release to date, and maintains his high caliber of songwriting, production and musicianship. With the exception of the drums, which are played by the United Nations' Musical Director, Robin DiMaggio (Paul Simon, David Bowie, Lopez Tonight), all instruments on Beautiful Pain are played by Keaton. Additional featured artists on the record include Alex Al (bass), Lenny Castro (percussion), Zac Rae (keys), Tyler Hilton (piano, vocals), and Tower of Power's Bill Churchville (trumpet, trombone) and Sean Hill (saxophone).
Keaton Simons and Best Revenge Records have a big year planned for 2013, beginning with the release of "Beautiful Pain," the first single and title track of the new record. Fans can also expect to see Keaton back on tour throughout the US, performing both solo acoustic and with his full band at a venue near you.